Pet owners are being put off taking their animals to Europe due to costly bureaucracy which includes a 12-page form and a litany of demands, research has found.Nearly four in ten owners say they are now less likely to take their animals to the continent due to the demands of the EU’s Animal Health Certificate system, which can cost hundreds of pounds per pet.The British Veterinary Association has criticised the system as ‘onerous, complex, time consuming for vets and consequently costly for pet owners’ and backed changes.According to a survey, 38pc of UK pet owners said they are more likely to holiday in the UK rather than Europe this year, due to the burdensome requirements.Unlike the Pet Passport system, which operates within the EU, Animal Health Certificates must be arranged for each trip and the cost can vary widely from £150 to as much as £350, as there is not a standard fee structure.As well as the lengthy form, there are requirements such as microchipping, and rabies vaccination and treatments such as tapeworm medication for dogs travelling to certain EU countries.British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux said: ‘Unlike the simpler pet passports, at 9-12 pages long, post-Brexit Animal Health Certificates (AHC) are more onerous, complex, time consuming for vets and consequently costly for pet owners.‘The required pet travel consultation alone can take around 45 minutes to an hour, even longer where there are multiple animals and this is reflected in the cost. EU pet passports are no longer valid for British animals except those from Northern Ireland‘Where costs differ from practice to practice or from one region to the next, it simply reflects that no two businesses are the same, with variations in staffing costs, fee structures as well as the cost of renting the building, and therefore it’s difficult to accurately compare like for like.’Dr Mullineaux added: ‘The Government’s announcement of a new veterinary agreement with the EU could see some realignment on pet travel rules in the near future, which should make the process of taking pets abroad easier for everyone.’EU Pet Passports stopped being longer valid for UK pets from April this year, except those in Northern Ireland. Compared with the Animal Health Certificates, the passports cost between 10 and 30 Euros and are valid for the lifetime of a pet, although regular treatment and vaccination requirements – which can still cost into the hundreds of pounds – must still be met.The survey of 1,000 people, on behalf of luxury bedding brand Tielle, also found pet owners go to extra lengths to look after their animals when choosing holiday accommodation.Some 20pc of pet owners bring their own pet’s bedding to help them feel comfortable and settled and 19pc said they were willing to pay extra for pet-friendly options.While 16pc of owners said they look for pet-friendly restaurants at or near their accommodation, 8pc even confessed to booking a separate guest bedroom for their pet and 7pc had a set place at the table for their pet at mealtimes on holiday.Catherine Morris, MD of Tielle, which has unveiled a collection of ‘five star’ bedding for dogs, said: ‘Pet-friendly travel has moved well beyond simply allowing dogs through the door; owners increasingly want their pets to feel as comfortable, cared for and considered as every other member of the family.‘We see this every day through our hotel clients, many of whom are going above and beyond with thoughtful touches for four-legged guests, from dedicated dog beds and towels to little luxuries that make a stay feel truly special.’